High cholesterol: Add lipid-lowering ingredient to every meal to slash levels - 'your best choice'

In a recent clip, the president and clinic director of Health Plus Wellness Centre, Dr Joe Esposito, argued that raw foods should be consumed daily at a minimum.

"Try having something raw at every meal. That could be broccoli, cucumbers, tomatoes, avocados, apples, peaches, or pears," he advised.

One thing all raw vegetables have in common is that they are high in soluble fibre, which helps lower cholesterol by binding to it in the intestines and preventing its reabsorption into the bloodstream.

This encourages the liver to use more cholesterol to produce bile acids, which in turn reduces LDL cholesterol levels.

But to benefit from these effects, Dr Esposito warned there are seven foods you should avoid.

These include vegetable oils, ultra-processed foods, cookies, processed meats, alcohol, dairy products and refined grain products.

Refined grain products including bread, cakes, doughnuts and pasta, should also be avoided where possible.

Dr Esposito specifically highlighted Canola oil as problematic, along with other vegetable oils. He advised: "Cut them out of your diet."

These oils, which are commonly used in coffee and baking, are responsible for the production of trans fat which significantly increases bad cholesterol levels.

However, according to Dr Esposito, eliminating these oils is crucial for maintaining healthy cholesterol levels.

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He also recommended having "a big salad with lots of fruits and vegetables in it."

According to the expert, fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds are "going to be your best choice" for managing cholesterol.

"That's going to be something you want to have at least every day, but try to have something like that at every meal," he stated.

This consistent approach to incorporating raw foods is presented as fundamental to cholesterol management, but patients should always consult a doctor to decide the best course of treatment for their condition.